Ultra-Hydrating Facial Moisturizer
Treat your face to some serious pampering with this ultra-hydrating homemade facial moisturizer. Special oils, shea butter, and essential oils nourish our most important skin.
When I was a teenager, I had the typical oily skin of a high schooler. I don’t think I ever used a facial moisturizer, and like others my age, breakouts were common.
Once I hit my twenties and started eating better, my skin improved greatly. Coconut oil became my secret weapon for healthy skin. I applied it daily after washing my face with water.
Then I hit my thirties, and I realized that coconut oil didn’t leave my skin as soft as it once did. It worked for a while, but eventually my face would feel dry again. Though I never would have imagined it as a teenager, I started to need a more intense facial moisturizer.
After toying with a few ideas, I came up with a facial moisturizer that is really fabulous. It’s perfect for my normal skin that’s just starting to show smile lines (which I don’t really mind) and can be dry in spots. With some luxurious oils, shea butter, and five skin-nourishing essential oils, this moisturizer is one I love to use!
It may surprise you that this moisturizer doesn’t contain any coconut oil at all. Shocking, I know. Coconut oil seems to be a cure-all for many crunchy mommas, and while I still use it for all sorts of projects, it’s not my favorite oil for my face.
Instead, I prefer a neutral base oil like apricot kernel or sweet almond. They’re just a bit heavier without being as greasy as something like olive oil. Shea butter provides deep hydration while rose hip, jojoba, and argan oils act as superfoods for the skin. Five essential oils were chosen because of their soothing, anti-inflammatory, and skin-improving qualities. Talk about ultra-hydrating ingredients!
Ultra-Hydrating Facial Moisturizer
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Ingredients
- 2 oz. apricot kernel or sweet almond oil (found here or here)
- 1 T. unrefined shea butter (found here or here)
- 1 T. jojoba oil (found here or here)
- 1 T. argan oil (found here or here)
- 1 T. rose hip oil (found here)
- 5 drops each: Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), sandalwood (Santalum album), frankincense (Botswellia carteri), and palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
My favorite source for premium essential oils is Florihana, carried by Tropical Traditions. Mountain Rose Herbs also carries organic essential oils.
Instructions
- In a small glass measuring cup, combine the shea butter and apricot kernel or sweet almond oil. Set in a small pan filled with water and on top of a canning ring or folded washcloth. Set over low heat and stir until the shea butter melts into the oil.
- Remove from heat once fully melted and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Add the jojoba, argan, and rose hip oil, then the essential oils. Stir to fully combine.
- Pour into a small 4 oz bottle. (Dark amber glass bottles are ideal, but I reused a plastic bottle that I had on hand.) If there is room remaining, I like to top off with equal amounts of additional jojoba, argan, and rose hip oils.
- To use, apply a very small amount (about 5-10 drops) to damp skin after gently washing.
I just love how my skin feels after I use this moisturizer! It’s so soft and smooth, but not greasy at all. If coconut oil just isn’t cutting it for your face anymore, this might be just the thing for you, too!
Does the shea butter not solidify again once it cools?
Hi Amy! Once you melt it in and stir well, it stays nicely combined with the oils. The whole solution might get cloudy if it gets chilly in your house, but it doesn’t separate out. Hope that helps!
do you sell this facial moisturizer?
Hi Susan! At this time I do not sell physical products, though that may be something I branch out to down the road. I know it can seem intimidating to make your own skincare if it’s new to you. One idea that might make this simpler… you could simplify this by leaving out the essential oils and just using one of the three specialty oils (argan, jojoba, or rose hip seed) instead of all three. I think you would still really enjoy it that way!
Nice! I need to try this recipe sometime; I am bad to neglect pampering myself.
It’s really a great formula, Julie. I just love it! I hope you do, too, if you try it.